A judge has delayed the sentence of a man who started a fire at his home to allow time for a care package to be put in place.

Nathan Davies, aged 25, has been in custody since the fire at the house in Scarborough Road, Torquay and at present has no address to go to when he is released.

Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC, adjourned the case for a probation report which he hopes will explore options for him to be supported in the community.

Davies, who has learning difficulties and an IQ of 65, lost his tenancy of his previous home as a result of the fire which he started using a pile of paper.

He pleaded guilty to arson, being reckless whether life was endangered at an earlier hearing at Exeter Crown Court.

Barry White, defending, said a psychiatric report had identified Davies's learning difficulties and concluded he has fit to plead but had not looked at options for the future.

He said the report had noted a lack of resources within the community and suggested that the best hope of him receiving support was through post-release probation supervision.

The judge said: "It is absolutely vital, and the public interest requires, some form of structured support. The court should not abdicate responsibility for that. It should try to sort out what should be done.

"It is quite clear from the psychiatric report that an adequate structure needs to be put in place to reduce the danger to the public to a minimum."